More than five decades since making his first appearance on camera, singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan has proven his status in the industry as one of the most endearing and iconic OPM artists in the country. And even at the age of 78, he is still doing concert tours abroad as well as joining fundraising shows like the Philippine Military Academy’s Alumni Association upcoming Christmas Concert series YuleStars on December 1. But prior to joining showbiz, Tito Joe, as he is fondly called in the industry, revealed he once dreamed of becoming a soldier instead.

“When I was a kid it was my dream to be a cadet at the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio (PMA). I guess I was influenced by the movies that I watched. I watched the movie called The Long Gray Line starring Tyrone Power and I said, ‘One day I want to go to West Point and become a cadet at West Point!’ We were good friends with General John Mayo who was the superintendent of the PMA and his son was John Mayo Jr. And he had another son, Victor Mayo who later on became commandant in the south. Of course when I think of the Navy, I think of (the movie) Anchors Away.

"Those were my dreams, to enter PMA and to enter West Point. But of course, God had other plans for me. So I’m very happy that God is using Christian (Bautista), Roselle (Nava), and me as tools of love and music  to give to our audience. So mabuhay ang OPM,” he shared during the YuleStars Christmas Concert presscon. 

READ: Jose Mari Chan chooses to stay humble: ‘I’m not the King of Christmas carols!’

With 14 albums under his belt plus numerous hit songs he also wrote for various artists, Tito Joe revealed why he has been hesitant to make more albums for his fans to enjoy.

“I would like to come out with more albums except that the platform has changed. Now, nobody buys CDs anymore. Tower Records is gone. They go to YouTube, they download the song for free and what I get from YouTube is enough to buy a cup of coffee (laughs). So that’s unfortunate. So these concerts are wonderful opportunities where we can sing our songs, our new songs and our old songs to share with our audience,” he explained. 

READ: Angeline Quinto, Ogie Alcasid, and Jose Mari Chan headline three-day Christmas concert series

As part of the early Christmas celebration concert, Tito Joe hopes people who come and support the three-day event will enjoy his show on December 1. “I hope that when the audience goes home, they bring back love and music with them,” he said. In 2012, he released the album Going Home For Christmas which he made for the Pinoys living abroad. “I dedicated a song to OFWS who sacrificed their lives to go out of the country to work and support their families and they bring back millions and millions of dollars  to our country. So that was my gift to them,” he added. 

READ: Jose Mari Chan on his memes: ‘Thank you for making me one of the symbols of PH Christmas’

For the coming holidays, Tito Joe said he is looking forward to spending time with his family the most.

“For Christmas it’s all family. That’s a good time to strengthen family ties, a good opportunity to strengthen family ties. I don’t mean to brag but I have nine grandchildren. Just the other day, my youngest grandchild was asking me for a Spongebob figure. For a while I didn’t know what he was talking about (laughs). Spongebob? What was that? Christian has mentioned that the best Christmas gift is giving help to those in need. And everyday there are always opportunities and I never let those opportunities pass,” he shared.

Watch Jose Mari Chan at the YuleStars Christmas Concert Series on December 1 show at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Circuit Mall, Makati City along with Christian Bautista and Roselle Nava with the Kilyawan Consortium of Voices on December 1, Friday. Tickets are still available via Ticketworld.com.